How to Build a Nighttime Parade Float

Building a parade float in general is a very time-consuming task, but creating one that has lights on it for a nighttime parade adds another level of difficulty. The whole process should take about 8 hours of work to get everything you want, depending on the complexity of your float. This design is for the basics of running lights on a moving float--the detail and design of what you want on your float is up to you.

Things You'll Need

• Flatbed trailer
• AC inverter
• Pickup truck with trailer hitch
• Extension cord, 25 feet long
• Power strip
• Gaffers tape or masking tape

Instructions

1. Attach the trailer to the truck. Have someone sit in the pickup bed to guide the driver toward the hitch. Once you've lined up the trailer hitch and the truck's ball hitch attachment, lock everything down. Remember to attach the safety chains.

2. Plug in the AC inverter into your cigarette lighter or AC adapter in your truck. This enables the truck battery and engine power to be converted to AC to power the lights.

3. Take the extension cord and plug it into the AC inverter once it's turned on. Run the cord through the back or side window of the pickup, or shut the door on the cord. Use gaffers tape or masking tape to keep the cord attached to the truck so nobody trips on it. The cord should reach the front of the trailer.

4. Plug in the power strip to the end of the extension cord so you can plug in several strings of lights. Check the wattage of the lights you want to use, because some AC power inverters can handle only certain amounts of output. Continue building your float, making sure that the lights are a major part of the design.

References

• Float designs
• Power Inverter Information